Vehicle supported tent



Aug. 3Q, 1949. 'W. RIPLEY VEHICLE suPEoETED TENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed oct. 42. 1947 Fig.

/64 INVENTOR.

Wa/er L. Rip/ey A 7* orneys 9 62 12M Mz Aug- 30,- 1949. w. L. R'IPLEY Y 2,480,509

VEHICLE SUPPOR'IIED TENT INVENTOR. Woler L. Rip/ey Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES liai'rlezN'r OFFICE VEHICLE sUPPoE'rED TENT Walter L. Ripley, Yankeetown, Fla.

Application october. 2, 1947, serial No. 777,421

25 Claims.

l This invention relates to vehicle supported tents and has for its general object and purpose to provide a tent of this type in which the several parts thereof can be easily and quickly assembled and arranged in attached supported relation to a motor vehicle, or motor vehicle trailer, to provide a sleeping compartment of ample dimensions at one side of the vehicle body.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a tent having top and end walls designed to extend over the vehicle body at one of their ends and having means for attachment to fixed parts of the vehicle at one side thereof, and an auxiliary supporting frame for said walls extending laterally from the opposite side of the vehicle, together with means for utilizing the weight of the vehicle to rigidly retain said frame in xed relation to the vehicle body. v

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide anchor platesof novel construction, adapted to be disposed beneath front and rear wheels of the vehicle and with which the auxiliary tent supporting frame is detachably connected.

' In a preferred embodiment of the invention the supporting frame comprises similar portions with means for adjustably connecting 'the same with the respective anchor plates to extend diagonally upward therefrom exteriorly of opposite ends of the tent, with means for supporting the top wall of the tent between the upper ends of said frame :portions under resilient tensional stress.

` An additional object of the invention resides yin the provision of a floor section for the tent of `flexible material with means for securely anchoring the same to the ground, and a front Wall section which can be readily detached and removed for daytime use of the tent.

It is also an object or my invention to provide a tent structure as above characterized of comparatively low production cost and in which said auxiliary supporting frame comprises a plurality of detachably coupled sections so that said frame parts together with the 'flexible tent walls, when not in use, can be very compactly arranged in a minimum of space in the storage compartment V of the vehicle.Y

` With the` above and other'objects in view, the invention comprises a vehicle supported tent and the construction and arrangement of its several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

n In the drawings wherein I have disclosed several simple vand practical embodiments of the in- Vention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment showing the several parts of my improved tent in assembled relation with a motor vehicle.

Figure 2 is a front end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the anchoring plates for the tent supporting frame.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the horizontal portion of the frame illustrating the detachably coupled end sections thereof.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale showing the reenforcing means for the front end edge of the exible top wall of the tent engaged with the supporting frame and the upper edge of the front wall detachably connected therewith.

` vFigure 6 is a similar vertical sectional view through the floor section of the tent.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the means for attaching one end of the top vand -end walls of the tent to the fenders of the y plate for the latter embodiment of the invention.

` Figure 13 is a detail sectional view showing the means for adjustably connecting the frame members to the anchor plates.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary elevation showing the means for resiliently connecting the frame members at their upper ends to the tent, and

Figure 15 is a detail view of a modification of said connecting means.

For purposes of illustration, in the drawing I have rshown my improved tent as applied to va motor vehicle of well known design. However, it will become apparent from the following description that, with minor changes in dimensions and design, my novel tent structure may also be used in connection with motor vehicles of various other types, as well as with non-powered vehicles, such as a motor vehicle trailer, to provide supplemental sleeping quarters.

Referring in further detail to the drawing, in

3 the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 thereof, the flexible tent structure includes a top wall Hl, opposite end walls l2, a floor section le and a front wall section i6. Each of these sections is cut to pro-per dimensions from water proof canvas or other equally durable flexible material. The end wall sections l2 are seamed to the opposite side edges, of the top Wall l, and the lower edges of' said end. Wall sections at" one of their ends are suitably cut or fashioned, as indicated at I8 to extend across and in contact with the engine hood and the rear end of the vehicle body` respectively, while the corresponding portiere di? the top wall l!) extends over and in contact with the top surface of the vehicle body; This end the frame are connected -by the intermediate coupling section 42, the opposite ends 44 of which have reversely threaded connections with said sections 40. Thus when the parts 40 and 42 of the frame are connected in assembled relation, the end portions of the frame are drawn inwardly toward each other and maintained rigidly in vertical planes substantially normal to the anchor plates 22 and extending outwardly and' upwardly from said plates at an angle of approximately 45.

After the auxiliary frame structure is assembled and connected to the anchor plates 22 as f abone.4 described, the top and end Wall sections l tended downwardly from the roof of the vehicle upon one side thereof and is provided withhooks.

or equivalent devices, indicated at 20, which are adapted to be engaged under` thee lowerfedges of the front and rear vehicle wheel fenders substanetially ai; the top center portion thereof.

'The tcpI and; end walls Il and; t2 respectively are of sufficientlengthl to:,extend laterally from the opposite side of' thel vehicle for a distance which is; substantially equal` tothe vehicle width, and theseA latter portions ofl the tent walls are sustained. and supported: in; proper. angula-rrelationitoieach other by aniauxiliary framestructure held in rigidly` fixed; position by the=weiglrt oli the vehicleaszwi-ll now be described; c

The anchoring meansl fori the auxiliaryV tent supporting trarne comprises; two: elongatedv rec.- tangular piatesf'ZZ; eact'r of which,A as shown,l in Eigmrex 3;. hasw one; of its ends turned inwardlyon one side of the plate to form a.,cylinclrcaly sleeve 2.9i Eaclrplatev d is-i further: provided with alarge diameter opening Zi rlhzese; plates are adapted to. be arranged upon the eroundicrroad surface sleeved ends 24 of said plates spacedrea-rwardly fromi the tires. vehicle isf then back` upon the plates Zto. contact'thetiresfwitih the sleeves 'Mg the tread? prfn'eictinnsV of. the tires: enteringthe openings 25 of ythe respective plates. Under the weight of the Vehicle' these: plates 22? will besecurely' anchored to. the Vgroundi ornziadr surface against` any' displacement relative to the vehicle wheels. It will be noted that the sleeves 2d? diK the anchorplatesl ane-thus located", slightly tothe rear of vertical planes passingf through the axiailccnter of the respective vehicle wheels.

The frame structure: comprises; oppositeend portions and a horizontal' connectingI portion, each of which. preferably includes a plurality of sectionsv ot` aflunlinuIn-Y piping or other: light weight tubular metal of equal rigidity.` lisyseeny inY Figure 41 offthe. drawing, eaclr endv portion of the; frame consistsv otr two: sections 28'; and 3f) respectively having. conventional detachably threadedy coupling means: at mating ends.` thereof" as indica-todi at 32. Each section 3B at its other threaded in one endiofffl" elboivjoint-member' tez-which ai short lengthi of' pipe 362 isl connected for insertion into theslecveMA on one of: the anchor plates,A 221. The lower surface ofthe pipe section 35 maybe attened as at 361 to contactthe top surface of plate 2'2" and limit turning,- or rocking motion, of said pipe 36 within. the sleeve 2'4:

The' other end? of each; section 285 of the. frame has: a 90? elbow' member Sf threaded'theremrv to receive one of Ithe sectionsv Mint ther horizontal portionA of the frame extending at right angles to the end portion thereof. These sections 40 of and !2 of the tent, having been removed from the` storage compartment of the vehicle in folded condition. are placed upon the top of the vehicle body. These wall sections are then vunfolded and extended lateralljT from one side of the vehicle over the auxiliary frame structure and also outwardly and downwardly over thel opposite. side ofv thee vehicle and the hooks 2G. attached. to the front andrear wheel` fenders. To the underside ot thetop-wall liter the tent along the front edge thereof anangular reinforcing strip i6 of leather or other similar material issecured.. The. top wall MlA ist then, tau'tly stretched. so as to engage this reinforcing strip over the horizontal. sections 4D and.i2 of the auxiliaryframestructure While the end walls l2. of the tent, extend downwardly from the, top Wall i0A thereof. to the ground externally of the-opposite end. portionsof. the frame. Thus, aswillbe seen from. Figur-e1. of. the drawing., the tentihasr af lengthwise dimension which is substantiallyedualfto the wheelbaselength of thevehicle. Y The floor section I4y may now belaid in. position. Preferably a cleat 48 is. secured, along each end of this floor section and at.. its opposite endsl has peiifolawedk ears or lugs 5d secured. thereto through which suitable anchoring pinsl indicated. at 52 in Eigure 6, are drifvzeninto! the ground.

The front end; edges of. the end walls l?, of. the tent. andL theolposite4 end edgest of. the. front. wall t6? are providedy with complementary. fastener elementsof siultable type as indicated at 5.4,.andsimilaat complementary fastening elements are also provided upon the depending vertical. edgev portionl of thereinforcing stripA den the. top. wall 1.0 and the upper edge of the frontwall i6, as shown at 5S. The improved tent will provide a large area completely; enclosed at one side ot the vehicle.- which may be conveniently. used for living and: sleeping. purposes. It` will be noted that the doorsDoithemotor vehicle Menen. into the tent so. that. the-interior of. the vehicle can be, utilized fas-a: dressing room.. If desired a numberoi, straps 58 may be attached at one of their ends tothe innerY sides of the end wallsA |22 of the. tent to be folded. over: the endsections 28 and 3.0 of the frame. structure andl attached tosaid walls. at their; otherV ends by suitable fasteners, indicated at.6;0. It-will also. he, noted. that the top. and. end Walls of. the tent completely coveror obstruct vision; through anyy ofthe windowsA or the wind shield: of the car., thus aicrding complete. privacy.

For daytime use of the tent the front, wall L6, theneot4 may, be readily4 detached and. completely removedror it may remain connected atits upper edge bythe fasteners 56 and simply. be, folded oveirupon -thef topwall I0 of the tent..

In: Figures 9- and 10 of the drawings a slightly modified formi ofL thefanchor plate isishown.. This plateJ (i2l is; provided; withy upstanding longitudinal fianges 64. along; its oppositeside edges between which thewheelL tire: is received., These flanges may be Welded to the plate or integrally formed therewith and at their corresponding ends are provided with aligned ,openings'to'receive the rod 66 connected at one` end with, the frame joint member 34. The' other end of said rod is threaded to receive the nut E8 having clamping kengagement with one ofthe flanges 84 to rigidly retain vthe frame in connected relation withthe anchor plate. t V Y Figures l1 to 15 of the drawings illustrate a simplified embodiment of the invention in which thesupporting structure` for the flexible tent walls comprises separateend members I0 each of which may include detachably coupled'sections as above described. Theanchor plates Hare inthe form of'metal castings each having a transversely extending rectangularenlargement v'HlV formed Von to bev detachably coupled to the lower end ofthe supporting member 10 by a conventional coupling sleeve 84. y

`Each supporting memberA lll atA its upper end Ahas yone end of a coilspring 86 securely-attached thereto. This spring at its l othe'rend terminates ina hook for detachable connectionV with a metal eye .or loop 88 riveted or otherwise securely attached to the tent at the longitudinal seam 90 joining the top wall I lof ythe tent to the front wall I6 thereof. However, if desired, a conventional metal grommet 92 may be used for this purpose in lieu of the loop 88 as shown in Figure 15.

It will be apparent from the above description that, after the vehicle wheels are positioned on the anchor plates 12, thesupporting members 10 may be readily connected therewith 'and adjusted by rotating themembers k8|] in the .sockets 18 and rigidly locking said members in xed position by the screws 82. In this manner the upper ends of the supporting members 'lll may be properly spaced apart in accordance with'thev wheel base length of av particular vehicle so that when the springs 8B are connected with vthe top wall of the tent said wall will be adequatelysupported'k under tensional stress in a horizontal plane.

Also these springs provide yieldable connections between the tent andthe Supporting members Vso that the iiexible walls of the tent will not oe i 1so torn under excessive pressures. Y

In this embodiment yof the invention it will be noted that the supporting members A'lll are rlocated externallyrof the end wallslof the tent.v t Ihe top wall of the tent isattached to the opposite side of the vehicle by'means similar to that' above described and itA will be understood that-,hooks `20 or other attaching elements may be connected with the flexibletent wall by suitable springs or other adjustable means.

From the above description-it will be seen that I have devised a novel tent construction provided with means for easily and-quickly attachingthe top wall and end walls lof the tent to one side of the vehicle bodyin supported relation therewith while the weight'of the vehicle 'iis'utilizedfor vrig'- Aof membery su is dis- ,posed at an angle ofrsubstantially 45 and adapted 6 idlysustaining the auxiliary frame supporting the majorv portion of the tent walls at the opposite side of the vehicle to provide a completely enclosed commodious sleeping space.

When use of the tent is no longer required, the top and end walls thereof may be readily detached from the vehicle body and the auxiliary supporting frame. They can then be tightly folded, and together with the disassembled frame sections, the anchor plates 22 and the rolled floor section I4 and front wall I6 closely packed into a minimum of space within the storage compartment of the vehicle. It will further be noted that vthe several parts of my invention are of exceedingly simple structural form so that the manufacturing cost thereof will be reasonably low.

The invention maybe embodied in other specific'forms `without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein,

VWhat is. claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A tent for attachment to a vehicle, comprising top and end walls of exible material having `means detachably engageable with fixed parts at `one side of the vehicle, said walls adapted to be extended over the vehicle and laterally beyond the opposite side thereof, supporting structure for the latter portions of said tent walls, and means adapted to be interposed between the vehicle and ground surface and connected with said supporting struc-ture, to rigidly ancho-r said structure by the weight of the vehicle in fixed position relative to the vehicle and the tent walls.

2. A tent attachment for vehicles as defined in claim v1, wherein said anchoring means comprises vindividual anchor plates upon which front and rear wheel tires respectively of the vehicle are adapted to be positioned, and means for detachably connecting said supporting structure to one end ofY each of said plates.

3. A tent attachment for vehicles as denned in claim v2, in which each anchor plate is provided with an opening to receive parts of the tire tread.

4. A tent attachment for motor vehicles comprising top and end Walls of ilexible material, means for detachably connecting said walls at one end to fixed parts of the vehicle at one side thereof, an auxiliary supporting frame and means for anchoring said frame at the ground surface at vthe opposite side of the vehicle to extend diag- Ionally outwardly and upwardly therefrom, said top and end walls adapted to extend across the vehicle'and laterally beyond the latter side there- Vof toY enclose said frame with the upper end of 'said frame in supporting contact with said top wall at its other end to hold the same under tension and in contact with the roof `of the vehicle body, and one of said end walls of the tent being supported by said frame in forwardly spaced Yrelation from the vehicle windshield and said wall having a lower edge portion fashioned to :extend across and in contact with the engine hood of the vehicle.

5. A tent attachment for motor vehicles as dened in claim 4, wherein said anchoring means :comprises members adapted to be respectively disposed beneath front and rear wheels of the vehicle 'and held in xed position by the Weight thereof, together withr means -forv detachablyfconnesting opposite end portions of said auxiliary frame with said membersgwith said frame portions disposed in parallel-vertical planes rearwardly of the respective wheel axles.

6. A tent attachment for motor vehicles as dened in claim 4, wherein said auxiliary frame in cludes opposite end and horizontal portionsV each comprising a plurality of detachably coupled sections, together with means for detachably connecting said-end portions of the frame with said anchoring means. Y

7. A tent attachment for vehicles as deiined in claim 1, wherein said supporting structure includes opposite end portions extending upwardly and outwardly from said anchoringy means, atan angle of substantially 45 and a horizontalconnecting portion between said end portions having supporting contact with said top wall Vof the tent at the` front end edge thereof. o

8. A tent attachment for motor vehicles as dened in claim 4, together with a ilexiblerfront wall, and means for removably attachingV said front wall tothe front end edges of said top and end walls.` f

9. A tent attachment for motor vehicles as dened in claim 8, and a V:lexiblefloor section for the tent provided with means foranchoring said door section to the ground.

l0. A tentv attachment for vehicles as dened in claim 1 wherein said tent supporting Structure includes members located externally of opposite ends of the tent and extending outwardly and upwardly from said anchoring means at anangle of substantially 45, together with yieldable means connecting each of said members at its upper end with the tent and supporting the top wall thereof under tensional stress in a substantially horizontal plane.

11. A tent attachment for vehiclesy asuenned in.

claim 10 wherein the connecting means between said members and said anchoring means comprises elements rigidly connected with the respective members and mounted on said anchoring means for rotation about vertical axes to dispose; the upper ends of said members in predetermined laterally spaced relation from` the ends of the vtent and to regulate the tensional pull of said yieldable connecting means, together with means for rigidly securing said elements and supporting members in adjusted position relative to the -anchoring means.

12. A tent attachment for vehicles as defined in claim 1l wherein said anchoring means comprises individual anchoring plates for the respective supporting members upon which front and rear wheel tires respectively of the vehicle are adapted to be positioned, each of said plates arone end having means for adjustably mounting the connecting elements for said members thereon.

13. .an auxiliary supporting structure for the iiexible walls of a tent, said` Walls having means for attachment to one side Vof a Vehicle Said structure comprising opposite end members,

means for anchoringl said structure in rigidly,V

lxed position at one side of the vehiclewth said end members extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom at an angle of substantially said anchoring means comprising anchor plates each having means for connection with one end member, said plates adapted to be disposed beneath front and rear wheels of the vehicle and immovably anchored to the ground surface by the weight of the vehicle,

1.4.u The combination` defined inclaimulh wherein each.- anchonplatef is. formed witha sleeve atone end, and each end member of the supportingi'structure is provided with a, terminal extension for detachable engagement in the sleeve of. therespective anchor plates.

. 15. The combination dened in claiml4, in which eachanchor plate is further providedwith an opening to receive tread portions of therespective vehicle wheels.

16. Meanszior supporting the exible Wallsv of a'tent atrone' side of a. vehiclecomprising anchor platesadapted to be. interposed between front and; rearwheelsofavehicle and the ground survface andrigidlyfheld against displacement by the Yweight of the vehicle, Atent supporting members, means for` mounting said members on one end oftherespective'anchor plates in upwardly andoutwardly extending relation therefrom and including. means foradjusting said members rela- Vtiv'etf') the respective anchor plates to dispose the upperendsA osaidmembers in predetermined spaced apart relation, and resiliently yieldable means'attachedjto thelatter ends of said members adapted for detachable connection with opposite Aends of 'a tent extending from the side of the Vvehicle between said members.

` 1'7. supporting structure for a tent attachable toa vehicle Vto extend from one side thereof, said structure comprising an anchor plate adapted to be interposed between one of the vehicle. wheels at said side thereofA and theY groundsurface, a tent supporting member, means on one endV of said, member and one end of said anchor plate coacting to position said member at an outwardly and upwardly `extending angle of substantially 45 from said 'plate and for rockable adjustment about aV verticalaxis to position theupper end .of said supporting member in predetermined v.laterally spaced relation to the vehicle wheel axis, and means for rigidly locking said member in xed adjusted relation tosaid anchor plate.

18. YTent supportingstructure as dened in claim 17 together with a coil spring attached at one. vend tothe upperr end of said supporting member. and having means at its other end for detachable connectionwto one end of the tent. 19; Means for anchoring a tent supporting structure to .the ground at one side of ia-vehicle, comprising ananchor plate adapted to be disposed beneath a vehicle wheel and immovably held against displacement by the weight of the vehicle, said plate Ybeingrprovided with means at oneof its ends for detachably connecting a part of. the supporting structure therewith..

20. The anchoring means dened in claim 19 vwlfierein said plateis. provided with an opening to receive a part-of. a wheel tire tread and said Iconnectingmeans comprises a sleeve integrally 'formed with said plate and adapted to receive a terminal extension of the supporting structure.

21..,1Vieans for adiustably anchoring a tent supporting member tothe ground at one side` of a vehicle, comprising an anchor plate adapted to he. disposed beneathavehicle Wheel and immovably held against displacement by the weight fof. the vehiclasaid plate atone of its ends having means. to. support-a terminal extension of said member forrotative.` movement about a vertical axis, and means carried bysaid plate to rigidly securesaid terminal extension in its rotativcly adjusted position .relative to said plate.

22. The anchorl plate for a tent supporting member vas-derinedin-claim 21 in which the supporting means :for the terminal extension of saimmembencomprises arectangulauv enlargement on one end of said anchor plate extending transversely thereof and beyond one side edge of said plate, the latter portion of said enlargement having a vertically disposed socket to receive said terminal extension of said member, and wherein said securing means comprises a set screw threaded in said end portion of said enu largement.

23. A tent frame for supporting a tent at the side of a road vehicle comprising a pair of anchor plates adapted to be disposed beneath and immovably held against displacement by the Wheel tires of the vehicle and having a transversely extending opening therein; end frame members, one for each plate, of tubular form having lower end portions disposed at an angle of 45 to the main body portion and removably associated with said transverse plate openings to provide spaced upwardly and outwardly extending end frame members and a cross bar removably interl0 connecting the upper ends of said end frame members.

24. The combination defined in claim 23 wherein said end frame members and said cross bar are formed from a plurality of separable short sections adapted for ready storage in a vehicle storage compartment.

25. The combination dened in claim 23 wherein the cross bar is composed of end sections and at least one intermediate section having oppositely threaded ends adapted to cooperate with the adjacent matingly threaded ends of said end Sections whereby said center section may be threadedly connected to both of said end sections Vby rotation in a single direction and will draw the other ends of said end sections toward each other to dispose said end members in substantial parallelism.

WALTER L. RIPLEY.

N0 references cited. 

